Special needs assistant review guidelines
Deputy Doherty warns that new SNA guidelines will restrict support and cites a Donegal child left out of school; the Minister highlights the major growth in SNA numbers and their importance.
The new special needs assistant, SNA, review guidelines have been met with outrage. The guidelines are about one thing and one thing only: restricting the number of SNAs and rationing SNAs. Children will suffer if this goes ahead. A five-year-old girl in Donegal, Allissa, has had to leave school because no SNA has been provided and she is one of many children across the State failed by the Government.
Every year we have parents and school leaders fighting a system of bureaucracy to secure what is essential for children with additional needs. Schools are now afraid to apply for SNAs in case they are taken away. Schools are being pitted against each other, SNAs disrespected and children again left to suffer.
I ask that the Minister for education change tack. Does the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, agree the Government should scrap the new guidelines and re-engage with school communities so we can have proper guidelines that have the support of everybody, including existing SNAs and families of those with additional needs?
Comment on this
I have seen at first hand the important role our SNAs play in classrooms all over the country, giving that little bit of additional support and help to young girls and boys who need it as they begin their school life and throughout their educational journey. There are 23,000 SNAs in our country. Compare that with where we were a number of years ago. In 2011, we had just over 10,000. There are now over 23,000. In the past five years, the number of SNAs has increased by 43% and they are needed. I just want to put that on the record of the House.
The work now under way is about ensuring we make best use of the SNAs available and respond to issues raised with us by representative bodies on the needs of SNAs. I will let the Minister for education know this matter has been raised here today. This work is all about ensuring the rapid increase in the number of SNAs is used in a way that brings benefits to those who need them most. I am very much aware of the sensitivity of the matter, as is the Minister for education.